1. ACCORDING TO THE LATEST OFFICIAL REPORTS REGARDING THE
MOST SEVERELY AFFECTED DISTRICTS OF GURUVE AND MUZARABANI
ALONG THE ZAMBEZI RIVER IN THE NORTH OF THE ZIMBABWE, AN
ESTIMATED 21,400 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED TO VARYING DEGREES
BY RECENT FLOODING. HEAVY RAINS, FLASH FLOODING AND WATER-
LOGGING HAVE ALSO AFFECTED SOME CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF
THE COUNTRY. THE HEAVY RAINFALL, WHICH BEGAN IN LATE
FEBRUARY, HAS EASED IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, SIGNALING THE
BEGINNING OF THE END OF THIS YEAR'S RAINS. THE GOVERNMENT OF
ZIMBABWE, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND DONOR AGENCIES, INCLUDING
SAVE THE CHILDREN (UK), WORLD VISION, THE ZIMBABWE RED CROSS
SOCIETY AND OTHER NGOS, CONTINUE TO PROVIDE RELIEF ASSISTANCE
TO THE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES. ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED
TO REPAIR DAMAGED INFRASTRUCTURE, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.


2. GOVERNMENT-PROVIDED MATERIAL AND CONSUMABLES ASSISTANCE,
SUCH AS CLOTHING, FUEL, FOODSTUFFS, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AND
TRANSPORT, WAS SUPPLIED AND MANAGED THROUGH THE OFFICES OF THE
CIVIL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (CPD) UNITS IN THE AFFECTED
DISTRICTS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL SHORTCOMINGS IN DELIVERING
GOVERNMENT RELIEF ASSISTANCE. THESE INCLUDE INSUFFICIENT
RESOURCES TO RESPOND ADEQUATELY TO THE EMERGENCY, INACCURATE
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 HARARE 01221 041517Z
INITIAL ASSESSMENTS OF NEEDS, DELAYS IN CARRYING OUT
ASSESSMENTS BECAUSE ROADS AND BRIDGES WERE DESTROYED,
COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS AND THE TRANSPARENCY AND EQUITY OF THE
RELIEF DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS UTILIZED. HOWEVER, THE GOZ,
THROUGH THE CPD AND IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR
MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIONS, DID MANAGE TO SEND OUT EMERGENCY
RELIEF ALERTS AND CONDITION REPORTS, AND TOOK CHARGE OF THE
OVERALL CO-ORDINATION OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND THE RELIEF
DISTRIBUTION EXERCISE.



3. THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH IS CLOSELY MONITORING AND ASSESSING
THE SANITARY NEEDS OF THE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES. SO FAR, THE
MINISTRY HAS PROVIDED WATER PURIFICATION TABLETS, MALARIA
DRUGS, MOSQUITO NETS, AND IS SEEKING EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE FOR
ADDITIONAL MEDICINES TO CONTROL CHOLERA AND DYSENTERY.
IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENTS ARE SUPPLEMENTARY FOODSTUFFS
(PARTICULARLY FOR CHILDREN IN THE PRE-SCHOOL AND JUNIOR SCHOOL
CATEGORIES), THE SINKING OF BOREHOLES AT NEW RELOCATION AREAS
TO ENCOURAGE VICTIMS TO LEAVE FLOOD-PRONE AREAS, AND FUNDS TO
RECONSTRUCT DAMAGED HOMESTEADS.



4. ACCORDING TO THE CIVIL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT WEEKLY REPORT
OF MARCH 28, THE FOLLOWING PROVINCES AND DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN
AFFECTED BY FLOODS:

MASHONALAND CENTRAL: MUZARABANI DISTRICT,
CENTENARY AND GURUVE. INACCESSIBLE AREAS INCLUDE CHIKOMBINGO,
GUNDUZA, KANYEYI, CHOMOIO, KECHE, MUROTA, NYAMAHARO AND
MARIMHUKA;
MASHONALAND WEST: KADOMA, CHEGUTU, HURUNGWE AND
MAKONDE;
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 HARARE 01221 041517Z
MIDLANDS: GOKWE SOUTH (AREA NOT ASSESSED), AND MUSITA
SCHOOL DISTRICT;
MATABELELAND SOUTH: UMZINGWANE AND INSIZA DISTRICTS;
MATABELELAND NORTH: TSHOLOTSHO DISTRICT;
MASVINGO: MWENEZI, GUTU, CHIVI, CHIREDZI AND ZAKA
DISTRICTS;
MANICALAND: CHIPINGE AND CHIMANIMANI DISTRICTS.



5. MISSION WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE CPD WEEKLY REPORTS
AS WELL AS OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON FLOOD CONDITIONS IN
ZIMBABWE. DUE TO THE EXPECTED DIMINISHING THREAT AND IMPACT OF
POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL/FUTURE FLOODING WITH THE ENDING OF T
HE
RAINY SEASON, HENCEFORTH, WE WILL REVISE THESE WEEKLY FLOOD
REPORTS TO AN AS-NEEDED BASIS.

IRVING

UNCLASSIFIED

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